Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States California Los Angeles Chicken Boy

Chicken Boy

The so-called "Statue of Liberty of Los Angeles" is on a one mutant mission to keep L.A. weird.

Los Angeles, California

Added By
jdguenther
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
  Eric Berry
  Eric Berry
Chicken Boy   Paul Bailey on Flickr
Chicken Boy   Paul Bailey on Flickr
Chicken Boy   Paul Bailey on Flickr
From a distance, in silhouette   Avoiding Regret
As seen from the sidewalk, through the tree   Avoiding Regret
October 2022  
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Standing sentinel over the City of Angels is a feathery guardian whose precious yellow bucket is always at the ready whenever visitors look up in search of an oddity. This hero's name is Chicken Boy.

Part man, part chicken, the 22-foot-tall fiberglass figure stands atop the Future Studio Gallery located along a stretch of Route 66. The amalgamated mascot was originally one of the once-ubiquitous Muffler Men, a group of notable customized statues which populated the famed Mother Road, but it was modified to advertise a fried chicken restaurant that shared his name.

Once the restaurant closed in 1984, the avian hybrid's future was uncertain, but thanks to the efforts of local artist Amy Inouye, a woman who had long admired the whimsical chimera, the fiberglass figure was saved from the scrapheap. After much lobbying and an attempt to have the figure entered into a museum, Inouye was finally granted custody, and the homeless Chicken Boy was placed in storage, awaiting a new home. Unfortunately, a suitable place was not found for some two decades.

In 2007, Chicken Boy's long dark tale ended when he was placed in his current location with the help of volunteers and donations. Today, he is still a celebrated piece of L.A. strangeness that is beloved by many. In fact, September 1 has even been declared to be his birthday–just in case anyone wants to throw him a party. 

Related Tags

Statues Muffler Men Roadside Attractions Route 66

Community Contributors

Added By

jdguenther

Edited By

gargantua, EricGrundhauser, Avoiding Regret, elizabethhorkley...

  • gargantua
  • EricGrundhauser
  • Avoiding Regret
  • elizabethhorkley
  • Michael Busch

Published

February 26, 2014

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://framework.latimes.com/2013/02/07/chicken-boy/
  • http://articles.latimes.com/2011/mar/14/opinion/la-oe-rodriguez-chickenboy-20110314
  • http://nationaldaycalendar.com/days-2/national-chicken-boys-day-september-1/
Chicken Boy
5558 North Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, California, 90042
United States
34.10851, -118.194306
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Highland Park Bowl

Los Angeles, California

miles away

The Pasadena Veloway

Los Angeles, California

miles away

Galco's Soda Pop Stop

Los Angeles, California

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Los Angeles

Los Angeles

California

Places 237
Stories 62

Nearby Places

Highland Park Bowl

Los Angeles, California

miles away

The Pasadena Veloway

Los Angeles, California

miles away

Galco's Soda Pop Stop

Los Angeles, California

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Los Angeles

Los Angeles

California

Places 237
Stories 62

Related Stories and Lists

A Retro Scavenger Hunt Is Rekindling Road Trips Across America

roadside attractions

By Kathy Adams

Related Places

  • Female lion

    Amboy, California

    Guardian Lions of Route 66

    A pair of large white marble lions guard this stretch of the Mojave Desert, and it is utterly mysterious how they got there.

  • Paul Bunyon

    Atlanta, Illinois

    Paul Bunyon

    While he no longer has an eatery to give him context, this off-brand Paul Bunyan still holds his giant hot dog with pride.

  • Danbury, Connecticut

    World’s Tallest Uncle Sam Statue

    Star-spangled and 38 feet tall.

  • This giant fiberglass catfish welcomes visitors to Trempealeau, Wisconsin.

    Trempealeau, Wisconsin

    Trempealeau Catfish Statue

    A giant fiberglass catfish welcomes visitors to this Wisconsin river town and heralds its annual Catfish Days festival.

  • Gummy bear statue

    Madrid, Spain

    El Oso Verde (The Green Bear)

    This larger-than-life lime green gummy bear sits in the middle of a roundabout in Spain.

  • Paul Bunyan is very much a local landmark.

    Cheshire, Connecticut

    Paul Bunyan Muffler Man

    A 26-foot-tall fiberglass American legend stands proudly here.

  • This queen has been here since the 1980s.

    Leicester, Vermont

    Queen Connie

    A gorilla holding a VW Beetle isn't what you'd expect in rural Vermont.

  • National Route 66 Museum

    Elk City, Oklahoma

    National Route 66 Museum

    An Oklahoma museum that celebrates the history of the "Mother Road."

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.